Not just baleful - BALEFUL

Monday, July 30, 2007

Sunday I rose at 3:40 am. I arrived via taxi to O'Hare airport at 4:40 a.m. I took a flight from Chicago to Washington-Dulles. I arrived at 8:30 a.m.

And then I spent the next 16 hours at Dulles.

Was it the 2 hours on the tarmac in the plane who shut off the AC to "conserve fuel"?( which BTW airline - not reassuring to the passengers to imply that your fuel levels might be in question)

Nah.

Was it the recall to our gate as I reached the FRONT of customer service at 2:45 p.m., with an implication that we were about to re board and fly away instead of be canceled as my gut told me we were about to be?

Hell, nah.

Was it the security sirens that would go off when employees would incorrectly swipe their cards and go through doors - followed with no one in particular being concerned as the sirens continued to go off for upwards of 45 minutes - in which time I could have chased down airplanes by foot?

Nah, a little Advil helped with the bleeding ear drums and temporary hearing loss.

Was it the 2 hours I stood in line at Customer service while moving 15 feet before giving up due to extreme hunger after my flight was "officially" canceled at 6 p.m.?
(I am not exaggerating when I say this line was EASILY a mile plus long...)

Nope.

Gate attendant who didn't want to guarantee my bags would get to me in Montreal cause that is, you know - International....?

Heck, no.

It was the gates changes - 4 - in rapid succession at 11 p.m. It was like Lord of the Fly Lemmings meets Dawn of the Dead Zombies as 200 people - young, old, infirm RAN from Gate C27.....to Gate C11 to Gate C4....and then back to Gate C11 - all jockeying for position in line, often reaching the front of the line at one gate before being told they could no longer be served at that gate - only to find that faster people had attained the front of the line at the new gate, and then running back down the hall when the gate changed again.....

It was the decline of Western civilization encapsulated in the microcosm of Terminal C at Washington-Dulles airport. I half expected to see Piggy being eaten in the corner of the room. In fact, I can't guarantee that didn't happen later in the evening....

7 Baleful Regards:

Anonymous said...

Oh my fucking Lord, that sucks.

I don't even understand WHY they would have four (FOUR!) gate changes like that. Beyond comprehension. It's like the airline was begging for the Decline of Civilization. I guess it's a good thing we can't board so much as a pair of nail clippers in out bags. I think someone might have gotten shivved. (did I spell that right?)

mailing you my Dad's chair.

Girlplustwo said...

holy fucking shit.

Lisa said...

Holy shit. I thought our trip back home was brutal. I think it was a cakewalk compared to yours!

Karen Bodkin said...

I could have DROVE YOU HOME FASTER! Jesus.

Anonymous said...

Argh. Traveling. I'm tired and cranky just reading about it.

Woman with Kids said...

Oh my god, airports are the downfall of civilization. Totally makes you want to start a riot.

Um, Hi Government Agents! I'm only kidding! ha...

Mitzi Green said...

jesus.tapdancing.christ.

i may never fly again.

piggy...ha.

angela

 
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